donkey milk and the most fantastic cheeses not so far away

 Boel is a returning visitor to Casario and the Tanaro Valley. She is still house hunting, but this week did a study trip to get a good feeling for the different villages and parts of cities so she can do the internet house search from Sweden. She helped me saw the planks from the old terrace, now there is a nice staple of wood for getting warm in the winter.

Today we made an excursion to celebrate her birthday. We went to the local castle, which unfortunately is closed even though it was renovated with tax money for four years. Beautiful beautiful building. The castles 'stable buildings' just below is now used as a donkey farm, so we stopped by to buy some donkey milk. First time I ever tasted it. A little sweeter than cow milk, and much less fat, without any of that 'side taste' that you get from goat milk.

We took a walk to Valcasotto, a sweet little village that has been restored by a cheese producer who now uses some of the fantastic cellars to ripen his cheeses. Had lunch in a  lovely place where I ate the best ever polenta, made from corn that was milled in the village - of course I got myself a big bag of polenta flour and also some cheese from the local store. Definitely a place to recommend and come back to.